Knockdown adjustable position canopy mounting



G. R. ROLLINS A ril 6, 1965 KNOCKDOWN ADJUSTABLE POSITION CANOPYMOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1963 INVENTOR GEORGE RICHARDROLLINS I 1' $11: ATTORNEY G. R. ROLLINS 3,176,699

KNOCKDOWN ADJUSTABLE POSITION CANOPY'MOUNTING April 6, 1965 2 Sheets-She et 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1963 v 0 FIG. I?

INVENTOR GEORGE RICHARD ROLLINS ATTORNEY United States Patent fine3,176,699 KNOQKDOWN ADJUSTABLE PGSHTION CANOPY MOUNTING George R.Rollins, R0. Box 1416, tillarksburg, W. Va. Filed Jan. 25, 1963, Ser.No. 253,865 2 Claims. ((31. 135-5) This invention relates to apparatusand equipment employed primarily in outdoor living including open-airactivities in the nature of picnicking, relaxing, enjoying the beach andthe like Where it is desired to provide a shelter from the Weather,including from the rays of the sun, from the wind and the rain, as wellas a shield from insects and from outside sight.

The invention relates particularly to a knockdown top or canopy mountingcapable of being adjusted to supports of various kinds and sizes, aswell as a mounting which can be adjustably disposed in diiferent angularpositions to provide the necessary protection to conform to the desiredrequirements.

Fresh air and sunshine are recognized as important to mans mental andphysical health and welfare and as a result sandboxes, hammocks picnictables and the like are provided at various locations at the beach andinland. Various types of devices have been employed for providingshelter including umbrellas, canopies, screens, partitions and the like.These have not been satisfactory due, among other things, to limitedapplication and use and consequently they have left much to be desired.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus by which asheltering canopy or cover, and if desired a curtain, can be employed ofthe most practical application for the purposes desired, includingapparatus which can be readily disposed in a relatively small compactpackage which can be placed in the trunk of an automobile or otherlocation from which it can be readily removed and erected to support acanopy roof or cover for a picnic table, over a sandbox, hammock, beachspot or other place of use and which after application can be adjustedat the desired angle to give the maximum advantage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knockdown support for acanopy ,or cover which support not only can be adjusted angularly butwhich can be adjusted as to elevation in a manner to be located closelyover a picnic or other table and form a protection for the contents ofthe table and for the adjoining seats.

A further object of the invention is to provide a canopy or cover, askeletonframe and supporting posts therefor, adjustably carried inbrackets which can be readily attached to and detached from a table topin a manner to 7 allow the posts to be swung from side to side of thetable and with the posts at each end of the canopy movable through theirsupports to vary the elevation or proximity of the end of the canopyrelative to the table and consequently the inclination of the posts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple,practical cover or canopy, knockdown adjustable supporting structure,and a curtain, all of which can be merchandised at a relatively smallprice and in which the justment;

FIG. 4, a similar view in a still further position of ad FIG. 5, anexploded perspective of the top or roof frame;

FIG. 6, an end elevation of the center mounting sleeve;

FIG. 7, a vertical transverse section through the post top frameconnecting clamp;

FIG. 8, an enlarged plan view of one of the top frame end members;

FIG. 9, an enlarged connecting T for the connection of two adjacent topframe members;

FIG. 10, a similar View at right angles to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11, an enlarged view of a top frame center member;

FIG. 12, an enlarged section of the top longitudinal center member orridge pole;

FIG. 13, an end elevation of such center member;

FIG. 14, an enlarged interior view of one corner of the top or roofframe with a curtain added;

FIG. 15, an enlarged perspective of one of the clamps for attaching thetop mounting frame to abench or other support;

FIG. 16, a section on the line 16-46 of FIG. 15; and

FIG. 17, a view of the apparatus in compact package form.

Briefly stated the invention is a combination top or roof in the form ofa canopy or the like, a supporting frame, posts for the corners thereof,a curtain for protecting against insects or from vision, and mountingclamps. The roof frame is of several detachable smaller pants, ineludinga ridge pole of adjustable length and embodying telescopic tubes with aneccentric by which they can be secured in fixed adjusted relation. Theroof frame can be readily assembled or takenapart and the parts combinedinto a relatively small package for ease in storage and transportation.The posts are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the roof frameand are mounted in clips which attach to a bench or other objects andbeing adjustable to fit picnic or the like tables of varying sizes.

The invention is a weather shield of light weight, such as a canopypreferably of flexiblesheet material 10 having a pair of spaced sleeveforming strips 11 located midway the length of the canopy adjacent eachside thereof.

Through the sleeve forming strips 11 and 12 extend generally parallelside bars each composed of a pair of members 13 and 14. The side member13 has a reduced extension 15 which fits into a complementary bore 16 ofthe members 14 and providing in effect a complete side member.

. Intermediate the side members is a central member composed of a pairof tubular telescopic sections 17 and 18 on the intermediate. portion ofwhich is located a sliding support 19 having lateral arms 20 and 21 eachof which extends downwardly at an angle for complementary engagementwith the end of a bar 22 having a curved p,

portions 25 and 26 of which the portions 25 are fitted into the sidemembers 13-14 and the portions 26 are fitted against the end members 27,the elbows 24 and the end members 27 thus forming a unitary structure.

Within the remote ends of the end members 27 are received the reducedextremities 23 and 29 of a T member 34) having a reduced extension 31received in the end of the central member thus providing a substantiallyhip type roof or canopy support obviously draining or sheddingprecipitation. it t r it i It is necessary that the ridge polebetelescopic and;

Patented Apr. 6, 1965 .ment with the end. members and locked in adjustedposition to support the cover.

Means is provided for supporting the frame with a canopy thereonincluding posts 32 having their upper ends secured by pivots 33 to anattaching clip 34. The posts are slidably received in attaching clips 35mounted on a carriage bolt 36 carrying a U-clamp 37. The U-clamp 37 issecured in fixed position by means of an internally threaded sleeve nut38 having an opening 39 for the reception of a rod wrench or rotatingmember dd, a lock washer 41 being disposed between the sleeve nut andthe clamp for locking the parts in fixed relation. The U-clamp may beprovided with an adjusted screw 42 threaded through one of its legs,such screw having an opening 43 for corresponding to the opening 3% bymeans of which the bolt may be rotated to secure the clamp to or releasefrom a table top or other support.

In order to fasten the two telescopic ridge pole members 17-18 in fixedrelation, tie innermost of these is provided at one end with aneccentric dd rotatably mounted on a pin or screw 45. Preferably theeccentric '44 has a diameter substantially the same as member 18.

A pin 45 is offset from the longitudinal axis of both the member 13 andthe eccentric 4-4 so that such eccentric can be disposed substantiallyin alignment with the member 18 in one position or offset therefrom inany other position as it is rotated. Relative rotation between thetelescopic members 17 and 18 will cause the eccentric to be offset andwill cause binding between the two members to secure them in fixedrelation.

7 When the canopy is applied to a table top 46, the posts 32 can beadjusted to accommodate variations in width and length of the table andthe top frame with its canopy or covering can be disposed in variouselevated positions as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 to shield fromthe elements, or lowered to form a protective cover for objects on thetable top 46 shown in phantom and with seats 47 at each side of thesame.

7 Since the upper ends of the posts are attached to the sides of theroof frame by means of clamps 34 as will be apparent from FIG. 5, theroof frame may be adjusted endwise within clamps on the posts to afforda greater overhang of the canopy at either end of the table.

The canopy 1b is provided with a depending border which border serves tomaintain the several independent elements of the top frame in assembledrelation. This canopy may be easily removed to permit the several frameelements to be taken apart and combined with the corner posts andsupporting brackets in a small compact package with the canopy formingthe wrapping therefor.

If desired a curtain of any desired chanacter may be provided suflicientto protect against mosquitoes and other insects or to prevent sighttherethrough.

In use the device may be removed from any container or wrapping in whichit is found, after which it is unfolded, the table clamps 3'7 removedand applied to the corners of the table 4-6, and the screws .2 aretightened by rod wrench 40. Then the side members 13 and 14 containedwithin the sleeves l1 and 1.2 of the canopy 10 are placed end to end andthe reduced rod extensions inserted in the bore 16.

On the side members 13' and 14- are slidably mounted or containedthe'clamps 34 connected by pivots 33 with the postsSZ. The end members27 are inserted over the reduced extensions 2% and 29 of the T members3% and the complete end member is connected to the side members bytheinsertion of extensions into the side members l3 and M. The outline ofthe supporting frame r a, 4 i will thus be provided beneath the marginof the canopy. The ties lb" of the canopy are then secured about the endmembers thereby maintaining the frame in assembled relation.

Next the ridge pole or center member 17-18 with the sleeve 19intermediate its ends is placed between the ends of the frame and thetelescoping members 17 and 18 are extended until they receive theprojections 31 of the T members 3% and upon relative rotation betweenthe center members i? and 18 the eccentric 44 locks the ridge pole orcenter member at its extended length.

Frame members 22 are disposed at right angles to the sides of the frameand are inserted beneath the canopy and between the sleeves ill and 12until the end of the support having the bore is telescoped over theprojections 2d and 21 of the sleeve 19 and the curved clamping end 23 issnapped over the side member in the area of the The clamps 35 may betightened by therod wrenches it in the screws 36.

To disassemble the collar type brackets or clamps 35 are loosened by therod wrenches 4t) and the posts 32 removed from the clamps 35. Next theties it) are released, after which the supports 22 are removed, then theridge pole and the ends. The side members 13 and 14 are separated andmoved at right angles into parallel relation to the posts 32. Whereuponall of the posts may be rolled into a small package within the canopy.

lit will be apparent from the foregoing that a simple inexpensivepractical device is provided for wide use for picnics, camping, orrelaxing on the beach, in ones yard or other location. The device isuseful when there is little shade or when there is no shade and wherethere is likelihood of a quick shower it can be quickly erected or takenapart and used to protect a table and contents from wetting or from thesun, adding pleasure by its use. The device is applicable to tables ofvarying lengths, widths and thicknesses. It can be erected or takenapart'by one or more persons. It can be folded into a small lightweightpackage which can be carried in the truck of an automobile or elsewhere.The device likewise may be used without the supporting clamps byinserting the posts in the sand on the beach or elsewhere.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but onlyas indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A knockdown adjustable position canopy comprising a generallyrectangular frame with separable side and end members and a telescopicridge pole, a canopy supported in fully extended position on said frame,a post adjacent each end of each of said side members, said posts beingpivotally and slideably mounted relative to said side members wherebythe posts may be slideably adjusted toward and away from each otheralong said side members, clamping devices adjustable to the thickness ofa supporting member such as a picnic table, collar type bracketspivotally mounted on the backs of the intermediate portions of saidclamping devices, each of said posts being slideably received in saidcollar type brackets, whereby the entire structure can be adjusted todifferent angular positions and to various elevations.

2. A device for protecting from the weather comprising a frame ofseparable elements having cooperating portions which fit together toprovide a generally rectangular structure having two long sides and twoshorter sides all joined to e er, a telescoping ridge pole extendingbetween two opposite sides, said telescoping ridge pole hav ingeccentric locking means for holding it in adjusted telescopic positions,a canopy covering and being held in extended position by said frame andsaid ridge pole and holding said frame in assembled condition, postsslidably and pivotally attached to each of said long sides near thejoints between said long and shorter sides, adjustable clamping devicesadapted to be mounted in spaced apart relation on a support, said postseach being individually slidably and pivotally received in said clampingdevices, said posts being slidable along said long sides to the desiredposition corresponding to the spacing between said clamping devicesWhile said canopy remains in assembled relation, said structure beingangularly adjustable to lower one side or end relative to the other sideor end and also being adjustable to different elevations by slidingselected ones of said posts through their respective clamping devices.

g References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/44 Terrill135-5 11/44 La Rue 135-5 6/49 Thompson et al. 287-136 6/50 Anderson eta1. 135-3 10/50 Refsdal 287-136 11/52 Heisig 135-6 8/55 Meldrum 135-6l/57 Zent 248-41 6/58 DAzzo 135-3 5/62 Hendon 248-41 FOREIGN PATENTS11/58 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

1. A KNOCKDOWN ADJUSTABLE POSITION CONOPY COMPRISING A GNERALLYRECTANGULAR FRAME WITH SEPARABLE SIDE AN END MEMBERS AND A TELESCOPICRIDGE POLE, A CANOPY SUPPORTED IN FULLY EXTENDED POSITION ON SAID FRAME,A POST ADJACENT EACH END OF EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID POSTS BEINGPIVOTALLY AND SLIDABELY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID SIDE MEMBERS WHEREBYTHE POSTS MAY BE SLIDEABLY ADJUSTED TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHERALONG SAID SIDE MEMBERS, CLAMPING DEVICES ADJUSTABLE TO THE THICKNESS OFA SUPPORTING MEMBER SUCH AS A PICNIC TABLE, COLLAR TYPE BRACKETSPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE BACKS OF THE INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS OF SAIDCLAMPING DEVICES, EACH OF SAID POSTS BEING SLIDEABLY RECEIVED IN SAIDCOLLAR TYPE BRACKETS, WHEREBY THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE CAN BE ADJUSTED TODIFFERENT ANGULAR POSITIONS AND TO VARIOUS ELEVATIONS.